Adding Value to the Workplace
| | Prioritize your To Do List |
| | | | Acknowledge work well done |
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In these times where a quality workforce is scarce and quality and productivity are key to a sustainable market presence, it is important to have a workplace environment that makes the employees feel welcome and respected. The following is a list of behaviors that should help add value to your workplace (Figliuolo, 2009):
- Prioritize tasks. If everything is important, then employees won't know the difference between a critical tasks and a less important one. You should write down all the tasks being worked on and assign each a high, medium or low. It is essential to only have 1/3 of all tasks in each of the three categories.
- Treat your employees like partners in the process, not like equipment. Learning about employees -- e.g. interests, family, hobbies, etc. -- will make them feel like they are more than a number.
- Fight for your employees' rights. All organizations have issues, standing up for your employees will gain their trust.
- Encourage your employees to have a balanced life. Tell them that weekends are precious and they should spend time with their family and friends. Don't send them e-mails or voicemails during the weekends as this would not respect the sanctity that you are trying to encourage. Learn how to do delayed send in Outlook so your message doesn't go out until Monday morning.
- Take time to relax. Talk with employees, share with them stories or jokes, laugh... When you relax, your team knows its okay for them to relax too (this can help get rid of negative or stressful energy).
- Don't micromanage. Too much control is unhealthy for you and reduces your teams productivity. Employees might make some mistakes (they are human), but they will be more confident to try new things and help the company grow... Control addicts should pick a few low-risk projects and commit to doing nothing on them unless asked for assistance. It might be uncomfortable for them at first but they will soon see the rewards.
- Don't keep secrets. Bits of information always leak and these create gossip and fear. Be upfront and honest with your team so that everyone knows what to expect.
- Don't be afraid of getting your hands dirty. For your employees, assigning work is different than doing work - they might not appreciate all that you do for them in the office but they will respect you for rolling up your sleeves and helping out on a project.
- Be a leader. Make decisions (and acknowledge that you might make a mistake or two). Avoid wavering -- a team is much more likely to follow a leader who makes decisions (even some bad ones) than a leader who makes no decisions at all.
In short: make your employees feel appreciated, and they will work harder and be more loyal. Workers prefer in-person thank you or having a job well done reported to senior management -- employers often underestimate the degree to which workers value kind words delivered face to face.
Reference:
Figliuolo, Michael. Managing Director thoughtLeaders, LLC. "10 Reasons Your Team Hates You (They Just Won't Say It To Your Face)." Web Site URL: http://thoughtleadersllc.blogspot.com/2009/09/10-reasons-your-team-hates-you-they.html. Accessed: January 11, 2010
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| Last Updated: 1/13/2010 1:32:38 PM |
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